Combination lock

ABSTRACT

A combination lock is constructed which utilizes a ratchet action principle. A plurality of longitudinally spaced assemblies are cooperable with a manually operable latching slide member. Each assembly is made up of a shaft, a non-rotatable ratchet member, a rotatable dial member, a rotatable ratchet and a sleeve. The sleeve of each assembly has a radial slot. The latching slide member has longitudinally spaced fingers adapted to be received in the radial slot of each sleeve when the fingers and slots are in alignment or when the lock is &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on combination.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; When the lock is &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off combination&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; a sleeve blocks movement of the slide member to maintain the device in locked condition. The essential latching slide member is used to change the relationship of a dial and its respective sleeve to thereby enable one to select a combination of one&#39;&#39;s own secret choice.

United States Patent 1191 Gehrie 14 1 Dec. 3, 1974 [52] US. Cl. 70/316,70/312 [51] int. Cl E05b 65/52 [58] Field of Search 70/70, 312, 316,317, 330,

70/332, 442, 443; 116/DIG. 39

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,618 8/1886 Knowles 70/281,763,224 6/1930 Davis 116/1243 1,781,510 11/1930 Hatch 70/312 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 272,895 4/1914 Germany 70/312 PrimaryExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmShapiro and Shapiro5 7] ABSTRACT A combination lock is constructed which utilizes a ratchetaction principle. A plurality of longitudinally spaced assemblies arecooperable with a manually operable latching slide member. Each assemblyis made up of a shaft, a non-rotatable ratchet member, a rotatable dialmember, a rotatable ratchet and a sleeve. The sleeve of each assemblyhas a radial slot. The latching slide member has longitudinally spacedfingers adapted to be received in the radial slot of each sleeve whenthe fingers and slots are in alignment or when the lock is oncombination." When the lock is off combination a sleeve blocks movementof the slide member to maintain the device in locked condit1on.

The essential latching slide member is used to change the relationshipof a dial and its respective sleeve to thereby enable one to select acombination of ones own secret choice.

10 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENIEL Bic 3mm SHEET 10F 4 PATENTE BEE31974 SHEET 2 BF 4 PATENTEL DEC 3 4 SHE! 30F PATENTELBEB 3|974 I v 3 5157 sum MP 4 COMBINATION LOCK operable with a latching slide member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Combination locks of the type which permitthe selection of a combination of ones own secret choice employ a leveror similar element to enable the separation of sleeves or the like fromtheir respective dials so that the relationship of the sleeves withrespect to the dials may be changed. The presence of the lever or a likeelement seems to invite tampering. It has been found that prospectivecustomers of equipment provided with combination locks, for exampleluggage or other containers or receptaclesfare tempted to manipulate thelocks before becoming familiar with the written instructionswhichaccompany the locks. As a result of the tampering, the on combination islost. The luggage case, receptacle or the like with the lock thereonmust be returned to the manufacturer. In addition to the shippingcharges, the manufacturer must bear the expense of trying to salvage thelocks, if possible.

A' primary object of the invention is to overcome or eliminate theforegoing problem. A combination lock made in accordance with theinvention is constructed without a lever or any other visible part whichmay suggest that the lock is of the type which may have the combinationset by the user. Only by reading the written instructions may one learnthat it is possible to change or setthe combination to a combination ofones own secret choice, and then, how this may be accomplished. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination lock withdials having indicia thereonwherein the dials have magnifying elementsrelated thereto to enable one to very easily read the indicia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A combination lock made in accordance with theinvention comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced assemblies.Each assembly comprises a shaft, a nonrotatable ratchet member, arotatable dial member, a rotatable ratchet and a sleeve. The dial memberhas two series of teeth. The rotatable ratchet has two series of teeth,one series being cooperable with the nonrotatable ratchet member and theother series being cooperable with a series of teeth of the dial member.The sleeve has a series of teeth cooperable with the second series ofteeth of the dial member. The sleeve has a radial slot. A spring acts tobias the non-rotatable ratchet member, the dial member, ratchet and thesleeve toward one another or into resilient assembled relationship.

A manually operable latching slide member is mounted for movementperpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of each of the assembly shafts.The slide member has longitudinally spaced fingers adapted to bereceived in the radial slot of each sleeve when the lock is oncombination), or when the fingers and slots are .in alignment. When thedevice is locked or off combination, a finger and a slot are out ofalignment; the sleeve blocks movement of the latching slide member.

The latching slide member is formed for engagement with a hasp in itslatched position.

The dial member, which has the indicia or numbers 0 to 9 thereon, turnswith the sleeve because these two components have their teeth in meshingengagement. To set the device to a new combination, the latching slidemember is manually held in unlatched position against the action of thespring which normally urges the slide member toward latched position.The device is on combination" and the fingers of the latching slidemember are held within the slots of the sleeves.

- Whereas a dial and its respective sleeve rotate together because theirteeth are meshed, with the latching slide member holding the sleevesagainst rotation, each dial may be rotated, or the teeth therof may becammed with respect to the teeth of the sleeve to thereby change therelationship of the dial with respect to the sleeve. The resilientconnection of the dial and sleeve of each assembly, which is furnishedby the spring acting to urge the parts together, permits the cammingaction.

The combination change is effected from thereadily accessible top sideof the lock, and it is accomplished without the inclusion of any elementfor this purpose. The essential latching slide member is used to set thecombination. It is essential that one actually read the writteninstructions in order to set the combination. Tampering is completelydiscouraged.

Another aspect of the invention is that the dial members'are each formedwith the indicia positioned on a diameter other than the diameter whichis engaged by the finger to rotate the dial, and such indicia arepositioned for viewing through a window provided in the face plate ofthe-device. A magnifying lens is positioned within each window,whereupon the indicia appear larger and are more easily seen.

These, and other advantages and improved results will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 is a transverse verticalcross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 3-3 ofFIG.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view takenapproximately in the plane of line 4-4 of FIG.

1, this view showing the device in off combination condition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, this view showing the device in oncombination or in unlatched and unlocked condition;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the device, this view having the bottom plateor frame member removed for clarity in the illustration;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the dial member;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the ratchet;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the sleeve;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the non-rotatable ratchet member;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 11-11 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 12-12 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 1313 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 14-14 of FIG. and

FIG. 15 is a top plan of the latching slide member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, acombination lock A is cooperable with a hasp B. The combination lockcomprises a face plate member C secured to a back cover or frame D.Within the cavity 18 provided by the face plate member and the frame,except for a protruding portion of each dial member, there are provideda plurality of longitudinally spaced assemblies E. Each assemblycomprises a shaft F, a non-rotatable ratchet member G, a rotatable dialmember H, a rotatable ratchet .l, a sleeve K, and a spring L which actsto resilient maintain the nonrotatable ratchet member, dial member,ratchet and sleeve in assembled relationship.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and II, the dial member H has two series of teeth 20and 22, the teeth 22 are l0 in number and on a diameter which is largerthan the diameter upon which the teeth 20 are situated. The rotatableratchet J (FIGS. 8 and 12) has two series of teeth 24 and 26. Theratchet is in the nature of a ring having teeth on opposite sides. Oneseries of teeth is cooperable with the teeth 28 on the non-rotatableratchet member G (FIGS. 10 and 14), and the other series of teeth iscooperable with the series of teeth 20 on the dial member H. The sleeveK (FIGS. 9 and 13) has a series of 10 teeth 30 cooperable with theseries of teeth 22 of the dial member H. Each sleeve has a radial slot32.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a manually operable plug or latching slidemember M is mounted for movement perpendicularly to the longitudinalaxis of each of the assembly shafts F. The latching slide member haslongitudinally spaced fingers 34 adapted to be received in the radialslot 32 of each sleeve K when the fingers and slots are in alignment asshown in FIG. 5. When the device is off combination a sleeve blocksmovement of the slide member, as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5and 15, the latching slide member M is provided with longitudinallyspaced notches 36 which are adapted to receive the spaced hook portions38 of the hasp B when the device is in the latched condition shown inFIG. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the combination lockincludes three assemblies E. The dial member H of each assembly isprovided with indicia or numbers equidistantly spaced about itscircumference with the numbers 0 to 9. Where, as illustrated, there arethree assemblies, there are 1,000 different possible combinationsavailable. It will be understood that any desired number of assembliesand associated dials may be used to furnish the desired number ofcombinations.

In greater detail, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the face plate memberC has a top plate portion 40. The top plate portion has a plurality ofaligned longitudinally spaced slots 42, one for each of dial member H ofeach assembly. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the topplate portion also is provided with a window 44 transversely spaced fromeach slot. Preferably, the face plate member is die cast so that thepart may serve a plurality of functions with ease and economy ofmanufacture. One of the functions of the face plate member is to provideintegral spaced pins 46 which bear against ears 48 on each of theratchet members G to render such members non-rotatable, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, while allowing these ratchet members to slide along theirrespective shafts F when setting the combination, as will besubsequently explained.

Referring to FIG. 2, the non-rotatable ratchet member G is slidable onshaft F, and the non-rotatable ratchet member, dial member H, ratchet .land sleeve K are related so that the spring L acts to urge the sleeveaxially toward the dial member, the non-rotatable ratchet member axiallytoward the ratchet, and the rotatable ratchet axially toward the dialmember. The assembly of these components is preferably maintained inposition by forming the face plate member C to furnish spaced bearingsfor the ends of the shaft F upon which these components are mounted.Accordingly, the face plate member is cast with the requisite number ofpairs of opposite open bearings 50, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Afterpositioning the ends of the shafts F therein, with the components of theshafts, the frame member D is connected to the face plate member so thatin their connection to one another the bearings for each of the shaftsare closed or completed. Such connection of the parts may beaccomplished by providing the face plate member with integral connectingstuds 52 near one end of the plate and a connecting stud 54 near theopposite end of the part. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latterconnecting stud may be extended through an opening 56 in the framemember and then headed over for the connection of the parts to oneanother. The same kind of connection is made for the studs 52 (notshown). Also, such connections are used to maintain the desired spacingof the face plate portion 40 from the base of the frame member toprovide the desired height of the cavity 18.

If desired, and as illustrated, the underside of the top plate portion40 may be provided with integral connecting studs on the central axisnear the extremities of the face plate member so that the entireassembly or combination lock A may be secured to the wall W of a luggagecase or the like or to a valance member by extending the connectingstuds through aligned openings, and then heading over the ends of thestuds, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft F extends through a bore 60 in the dialmember H and through a bore 62 in the non-rotatable ratchet member G.The nonrotatable ratchet member is provided with a counterbore 64 withinwhich is positioned the spring L, which is in the form of a helicallycoiled compression spring. One end of the spring bears against theshoulder 66 of the member (FIG. 14), and the opposite end bears againstthe wall 68 provided by the frame member or the side wall 70 of the faceplate member. The side wall of the face plate member is provided withspaced apertures 71 (FIG. 3) to allow the spaced portions 38 of the haspB to enter the cavity 18 for cooperation with the latching slide member.As also shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve K surrounds the non-rotatableratchet member G, and the rotatable ratchet member .I surrounds thenon-rotatable ratchet member on a reduced diameter thereof. The teeth 22of the dial member H and the teeth 30 of the sleeve K are in constantengagement so that in turning the dial member in either direction thesleeve moves with it. The only time the sleeve and dial member are outof meshing engagement is during a combination change, as will besubsequently explained.

The described arrangement of components furnishes a true stop positionfor each number on each dial member, together with a desirable audibleclicking sound upon turning of the dial member. When the dial member His rotated in one direction, the teeth 20 are engaged with the teeth ofthe rotatable ratchet J and the rotatable ratchet rotates with the dialmember. The teeth on the opposite side of the rotatable ratchet ride upand down over each tooth of the non-rotatable ratchet member G. There isa clicking sound at each drop, and at the same time, there is a positivestop position for each number and each tooth. When the dial member isturned in the opposite direction, the ratchet teeth 20 on the dialmember slip with respect to the teeth on the ratchet member, while theteeth of the non-rotating ratchet member and of the ratchet J remainsolidly engaged and non-rotating; The dial member and its associatedsleeve member are rotatable because there is no direct connectionbetween the dial member and the non-rotating ratchet member.

In the preferred and illustrated form of the invention, the dial memberH is provided with one diameter which is knurled or otherwise formed at72 to facilitate rotation of the part. It is this diameter which extendspartially out of the slot 42. As shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 6, thedial member H has an area 74 of reduced diameter upon which areinscribed the indicia, in this case the numbers through 9, there being anumber or indicia for each of the IQ teeth 22 which are in engagementwith a like number of teeth on the sleeve K. The indicia'are locatedbeneath the windows 44 in the face plate portion 40. To enable one tobetter see the indicia a magnifying lens 0 (FIG. 2) isset directly ineach of the windows 44. Preferably, the magnifying lens is made of aclea r resin composition molded to furnish the magnifying property; forexample, methyl methacrylate, a styrene compound or other resincomposition which is capable of furnishing the magnifying function asknown in the art.

If desired, the windows and the magnifying lenses may be omitted,whereby the numerals would be equidistantly positioned on the diameter72 of the dial which extends partially out of each slot 42.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, resilientmeans N biases or urges the latching slide member M toward latchedposition. As shown in FIG. 6, theresilient means is preferably in theform of a bent leaf spring having one end anchored in the face platemember C at 76 and the other end extended through an opening 78 in thelatching slide member. As shown in FIGS. 4 and the slide member isprovided with longitudinally spaced cut-outs 80 into which extend thefingers 34. The cut-outs allow the slide member to clear the assembliesE when the member is moved longitudinally between latched and unlatchedpositions. As best shown in FIG. 3, the slide member is guided at topand bottom by surfaces provided by the face plate member C and the framemember D and on the sides thereof by surfaces provided by the face platemember at 82 and surfaces 84 provided by the dial members H. If desired,the latching slide member may be mounted to provide a dead bolt action,that is, to require manual movement from latched to unlatched positionand vice-versa.

To move the latching slide member M from latched to unlatched position,a puller 86 is positioned on the face plate member and connected to thelatching slide member by means 88 extended through an opening 90 in theface plate member, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. One simply grasps thepuller between the fingers and moves it from the position shown in FIG.4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 against the action of the spring N.This may be done only when the lock is on combination," or when theradial slots 32 in the sleeves K are all oriented or aligned to receivethe fingers 34 of the latching slide member. To enable additional pullerand slide member movement which may be negligible if dependency wereplaced on the sleeve hub alone, a slot 92 may also be provided in thenon-rotatable ratchet member so that the fingers 34 have a deeper throwor movement, as shown in FIG. 5.

With the lock on combination, the combination may be changed to acombination of ones own secret choice. This is accomplished by graspingthe puller and holding the puller in its unlatched position against theaction of the spring N. In this position the fingers 34 are positionedwithin the radial slots 32 of the sleeves K. With the fingers thus.positioned and holding the sleeves, any of the dial members may berotated with respect to their respective sleeves by a camming action ofthe teeth which are in engagement with oneanother. Such camming actionis permitted because of the resilient connection afforded'by the springL between the dial and the sleeve of each assembly. The combinationchange is effected from the readily accessible top side of the lock andit is accomplished without the inclusion of any extraneous, elementprovided for this purpose. The essential latching member is used to setthe combination. One must read the written instructions in order to setthe combination.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results afforded by thecombination lock of the invention will be apparent from the foregoingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A combination lock comprising a plurality of Iongitudinally spacedassemblies, each assembly comprising a shaft, a non-rotatable ratchetmember, a rotatable dial member having two series of teeth, a rotatableratchet having two series of teeth, one series of teeth of the rotatableratchet being cooperable with the nonrotatable ratchet member and theother series being cooperable with a series of teeth of the dial member,a sleeve having a series of teeth cooperable with the second series ofteeth of the dial member, the sleeve having a radial slot, and a springresiliently maintaining the non-rotatable ratchet member, dial member,ratchet and sleeve in assembled relationship, and a manually operablelatching slide member mounted for movement perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis of each of said assembly shafts, the latching slidemember having longitudinally spaced fingers adapted to be received inthe radial slot of each sleeve when the fingers and slots are inalignment, a sleeve blocking movement of the slide member when a fingerand a slot are out of alignment.

2. A combination lock according to claim 1, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member is slidable on the shaft, and the non-rotatable ratchetmember, dial member, ratchet and sleeve are related so that the springacts to urge the sleeve axially toward the dial member, thenon-rotatable ratchet member axially toward the ratchet, and the ratchetaxially toward the dial membet.

3. A combination lock according to claim 2, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is acoiled compression spring positioned in the counterbore and surroundsthe shaft, the sleeve surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member, andthe rotatable ratchet surrounds the nonrotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.

4. A combination lock according to claim 1 including a face platemember, the face plate member having a plurality of alignedlongitudinally spaced slots, a window transversely spaced from each slotextending through the face plate member, the dial members each having afirst diameter extending partially through the slots and formed tofacilitate rotation of the member, the dial members each having a secondand smaller diameter upon which indicia are located, the indicia beingin alignment with the respective windows.

5. A combination lock according to claim 4, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member is slidable on the shaft, and the non-rotatable ratchetmember, dial member, ratchet and sleeve are related so that the springacts to urge the sleeve axially toward the dial member, thenon-rotatable ratchet member axially toward the ratchet, and the ratchetaxially toward the dial memher.

6. A combination lock according to claim 5, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is acoiled compression spring positioned in the counter-bore and surroundsthe shaft, the sleeve surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member, andthe rotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.

7. A combination lock according to claim 4 including a magnifying lensin each of the windows.

8. A combination lock according to claim 6 including a frame memberconnected to the face plate member, the face plate and frame membersbeing formed to provide bearings for each of the shafts.

9. A combination lock according to claim 1 including a face platemember, the face plate member having a plurality of alignedlongitudinally spaced slots, a dial member extending partially througheach slot, an opening in the face plate member, a puller positioned onthe face plate member and connected to the latching slide member bymeans extending through the opening, the puller providing means formoving the latching slide member from latched to unlatched position, andresilient means normally urging the latching slide member toward latchedposition.

10. A combination lock according to claim 9 wherein the face platemember has a window transversely spaced from each slot extending throughthe face plate member, the dial members each having a first diameterextending partially through the slots and formed to facilitate rotationof the member, the dial members each having a second and smallerdiameter upon which indicia are located, the indicia being in alignmentwith the respective windows.

11. A combination lock according to claim 10, including a magnifyinglens in each of the windows.

12. A combination lock according to claim 9, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member is slidable on the shaft, and the non-rotatable ratchetmember, dial member, ratchet and sleeve are related so that the springacts to urge the sleeve axially toward the dial member, thenon-rotatable ratchet member axially toward the ratchet, and the ratchetaxially toward the dial member.

13. A combination lock according to claim 12, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is acoiled compression spring positioned in the counter-bore and surroundsthe shaft, the sleeve surrounds the nonrotatable ratchet member, and therotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.

14. A combination lock according to claim 10, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member is slidable on the shaft, and the non-rotatable ratchetmember, dial member, ratchet and sleeve are related so that the springacts to urge the sleeve axially toward the dial member, thenon-rotatable ratchet member axially toward the ratchet, and the ratchetaxially toward the dial member.

15. A combination lock according to claim 14, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is acoiled compression spring positioned in the counter-bore and surroundsthe shaft, the sleeve surrounds the nonrotatable ratchet member, and therotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.

16. A combination lock according to claim 15, in-

cluding a magnifying lens in each of the windows.

1. A combination lock comprising a plurality of longitudinally spacedassemblies, each assembly comprising a shaft, a nonrotatable ratchetmember, a rotatable dial member having two series of teeth, a rotatableratchet having two series of teeth, one series of teeth of the rotatableratchet being cooperable with the non-rotatable ratchet member and theother series being cooperable with a series of teeth of the dial member,a sleeve having a series of teeth cooperable with the second series ofteeth of the dial member, the sleeve having a radial slot, and a springresiliently maintaining the non-rotatable ratchet member, dial member,ratchet and sleeve in assembled relationship, and a manually operablelatching slide member mounted for movement perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis of each of said assembly shafts, the latching slidemember having longitudinally spaced fingers adapted to be received inthe radial slot of each sleeve when the fingers and slots are inalignment, a sleeve blocking movement of the slide member when a fingerand a slot are out of alignment.
 2. A combination lock according toclaim 1, wherein the non-rotatable ratchet member is slidable on theshaft, and the non-rotatable ratchet member, dial member, ratchet andsleeve are related so that the spring acts to urge the sleeve axiallytoward the dial member, the non-rotatable ratchet member axially towardthe ratchet, and the ratchet axially toward the dial member.
 3. Acombination lock according to claim 2, wherein the non-rotatable ratchetmember has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is a coiledcompression spring positioned in the counterbore and surrounds theshaft, the sleeve surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member, and therotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.
 4. A combination lock according to claim 1including a face plate member, the face plate member having a pluralityof aligned longitudinally spaced slots, a window transversely spacedfrom each slot extending through the face plate member, the dial memberseach having a first diameter extending partially through the slots andformed to facilitate rotation of the member, the dial members eachhaving a second and smaller diameter upon which indicia are located, theindicia being in alignment with the respective windows.
 5. A combinationlock according to claim 4, wherein the non-rotatable ratchet member isslidable on the shaft, and the non-rotatable ratchet member, dialmember, ratchet and sleeve are related so that the spring acts to urgethe sleeve axially toward the dial member, the non-rotatable ratchetmember axially toward the ratchet, and the ratchet axially toward thedial member.
 6. A combination lock according to claim 5, wherein thenon-rotatable ratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, thespring is a coiled compression spring positioned in the counter-bore andsurrounds the shaft, the sleeve surrounds the non-rotatable ratchetmember, and the rotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchetmember on a smaller diameter thereof.
 7. A combination lock according toclaim 4 including a magnifying lens in each of the windows.
 8. Acombination lock according to claim 6 including a frame member connectedto the face plate member, the face plate and frame members being formedto provide bearings for each of the shafts.
 9. A combination lockaccording to claim 1 including a face plate member, the face platemember having a plurality of aligned longitudinally spaced slots, a dialmember extending partially through each slot, an opening in the faceplate member, a puller positioned on the face plate member and connectedto the latching slide member by means extending through the opening, thepuller providing means for moving the latching slide member from latchedto unlatched position, and resilient means normally urging the latchingslide member toward latched position.
 10. A combination lock accordingto claim 9 wherein the face plate member has a window transverselyspaced from each slot extending through the face plate member, the dialmembers each having a first diameter extending partially through theslots and formed to facilitate rotation of the member, the dial memberseach having a second and smaller diameter upon which indicia arelocated, the indicia being in alignment with the respective windows. 11.A combination lock according to claim 10, including a magnifying lens ineach of the windows.
 12. A combination lock according to claim 9,wherein the non-rotatable ratchet member is slidable on the shaft, andthe non-rotatable ratchet member, dial member, ratchet and sleeve arerelated so that the spring acts to urge the sleeve axially toward thedial member, the non-rotatable ratchet member axially toward theratchet, and the ratchet axially toward the dial member.
 13. Acombination lock according to claim 12, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is acoiled compression spring positioned in the counter-bore and surroundsthe shaft, the sleeve surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member, andthe rotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.
 14. A combination lock according to claim 10,wherein the non-rotatable ratchet member is slidable on the shaft, andthe non-rotatable ratchet member, dial member, ratchet and sleeve arerelated so that the spring acts to urge the sleeve axially toward thedial member, the non-rotatable ratchet member axially toward theratchet, and the ratchet axially toward the dial member.
 15. Acombination lock according to claim 14, wherein the non-rotatableratchet member has a central bore and a counter-bore, the spring is acoiled compression spring positioned in the counter-bore and surroundsthe shaft, the sleeve surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member, andthe rotatable ratchet surrounds the non-rotatable ratchet member on asmaller diameter thereof.
 16. A combination lock according to claim 15,including a magnifying lens in each of the windows.